In Wisdom, GOD, through King Solomon provided Proverbs which is 31 chapters of wisdom. In several of those chapters, it is replete with verses that make it clear God is focused with love for those that are poor and takes offense when His children, we the believers in Christ Jesus, neglect them.
Clearly, wisdom is shared concerning the consequences of ignoring the plight of the poor in Proverbs 21:13 by the statement, “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry and it will not be heard”. In keeping with other senses most are blessed to have there is a stronger statement of wisdom from Proverbs 28:27, “He who shuts his eyes [to the poor] receives many curses.
There are other areas where statements or comments appear, like in Genesis 19, where among the many sins pointed out of Sodom it is said her people were "arrogant, overfed, and indifferent; they did not help the poor and the needy.”
Moreover, the New Testament is equally clear on how we are to care for the poor. In one verse, which aptly sums up our expected charity we find in a first of 3 letter from John it states, “If anyone has material goods and sees his brother in need but has no mercy on him, how can the love of God be in him? Ouch! Furthermore, it goes on to state, “Dear children, do not love with words or with tongue, but with deeds and with truth” (1 John 3: 17-18).
Jesus however was prolific in detail as written in Matthew 25: 31-46. These words from Jesus is specific to the Gentiles which precedes the millennial reign of Christ and is often referred to as the “judgment of the nations,” in which those who have gathered before Christ will be divided into two groups: the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Those on the left will be sent to “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41), while those on the right will receive their eternal inheritance (verse 34). Note, however, the language that Jesus uses to address these separate groups. Sheep are called righteous to have taken action to care for the poor, the sick, the incarcerated and the vulnerable. Goats, on the other hand, are to be punished for their lack of concern and action towards those in need. When those that are called Sheep ask Him when they did these things, Jesus responds by saying, "Whatever you have done to one of these least of my brethren, you have done to me.
Remember, one of the reasons we were created is to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us, and those “good works” Christ speaks of in Matthew 25 include caring for the poor and the suffering. In the book of James verse 2:26, says, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. We are to take actions. It is a sin to know that we are to do something and yet we ignore to do it for one that does such it is a sin.
Likewise, again in the first letter by John he said, “The man who says, 'I know him,' but not doing as he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2: 4, 6). These are all calls to action in the life of a believer of Jesus Christ.
Consider the words of Christ himself: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). The words of Jesus gives us a vision of his heart for the poor and instructions on how to care for them. If we have real faith in Jesus, we must also share his concern for the poor. Jesus commanded us to love one another (John 13: 34-35). Moreover, what better way to demonstrate the love, kindness, and compassion of Jesus Christ than to reach out to the “least of us” the children, the orphans, the hungry, the ones that struggle daily in a community that also struggles and can provide nothing better. In a video voiced by our CEO and founder Willy Ouma, an orphan himself, he speaks of how the poor are trapped in a repeating cycle of Poverty. Willy points out with support, food, some education, some care, and Spiritual values, the least of these can break this cycle of Poverty and teach others the same. Jesus Christ overcame the world by taking action on the cross. Therefore, when believers in Jesus Christ take action to these needs as is done for GIVE HOPE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL to provide the path to help each one of those children break out of the cycle of poverty. By helping, it is possible the least of these are enabled with personal testimony to share with the poor and needy such that in their own communities they show the way, the truth and the life through Christ Jesus to help them rise out of Poverty.
I think about the truth of Romans 3:23 to remind us that “All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of GOD”, it can be rewritten to state, we have sinned by not doing what we have been commanded and thus we have robbed GOD of Glory.
I do not write all these things to make the reader feel bad or urge giving for this ministry. Instead I write to inform you and challenge you to know that you actions have very far reaching and lasting results to improving the life of these children who will become adults and teach their children as well and over several generations the cycle of Poverty shall be reduced. I would not say it will abolish the poor and needy, Jesus made the statement “You will always have the poor…” I write to challenge you to cause Jesus more work in construction, as he stated: “In my Father’s house there are many mansions, I go there to prepare a place…” Well as you give and help and offer what you can to others especially those that are called the least of these by Christ Jesus himself, you also store up treasures in heaven. Therefore, I challenge you to build up so many treasure that Jesus Christ will just have to prepare more rooms in the mansions in His Father’s house. I assure you He will not mind making this expansion, as He is after all a Carpenter’s son, so He has the Holy Skill set!
We are blessed tremendously to have the provisions and support with new projects like our 3 level building and may awesome past projects posted within our website where there are examples of how your actions are releasing children from the cycle of poverty trap they have faced in the past. Look at the faces of each child, each teacher, our staff, the caregivers, then realize you are showing the word of GOD as coming true. You are what Jesus Christ calls “Sheep” on his right hand. Since you are taking a portion of what GOD has provided you, you are forming in the heavenly places, “Welcome Good and Faithful Servant” in your day of your homecoming. Take a moment and be humbled that your Holy Father in heaven through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit in you as a believer, is looking upon this earth and He sees the face of His Holy Angels who are looking at the face of the least of these...
The Apostle Paul writes: “We are confident the HE who started a good work in you will keep it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6. What you have done in your support of this ministry will carry on long after you have had your homecoming and walk in the cool of the day with Jesus himself our Lord and Savior one day.
We thank each of you for giving these past years and supporting Give Hope Ministries International, setting each of the least of these on a path that will help them become that good work that was started by your actions of obedience to the command to Love one another, care for the Widows and Orphans.
Glory to GOD, Praise for each of You. In Christ Jesus and with the uttering groans of the prayer of the Holy Spirit as each of us ought to pray the will of GOD. May the Peace of God be known by your heart and keep you humble before GOD.
Realize each person in Christ Jesus through this ministry has contributed a chance of salvation in these good works being the "fruit" or proof, that believers in Christ have provided for them, the little children, the chance of being saved by grace (Ephesians 2: 8-10). Christ will indeed be accompanied by undeniable proof of transformation when the least of these share their own testimonies and share the good news of the Gospel and many will come to Salvation. God after all does desire that ALL come to salvation.
We at GHMI.org give thanks and ask GOD’s face to shine upon you in every good circumstance.
We Love you all in Christ Jesus and again on behalf of the over 400 that you now support, Thank You!
In Christ, Amen and Amen.
Ray E Smith
Board of Directors